The Ring of Truth: The Wisdom of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung

The four operas that make up German composer Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, or the Ring cycle, are among the greatest operatic achievements of all time. Scruton (The Aesthetics of Music) here offers what must be a definitive take on these works. After explaining how Wagner came to compose the pieces from 1848 to 1874, the author gives a detailed synopsis of the plot of each, with numerous references to the music. Then he describes "how the music works," including detailed discussion of the themes that infuse the score and enhance the drama. Another section deals with the numerous characters and their symbolic significance. Scruton's presentation is grounded throughout in a deep understanding of the culture of Wagner's era. One of the most useful sections is an appendix that lists the 186 leitmotifs of the work and their musical notation (the text makes numerous references to these). Erudite is the first word that comes to mind as one reads this masterly account. Despite its high conceptual level, which encompasses music, philosophy, and history, the writing is clear and persuasive. The author also includes views of other scholars that are opposed to his.